RACING Tax Relief Sought By Racing Clubs

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30481, 1 July 1964, Page 4

RACING Tax Relief Sought By Racing Clubs

Unless something was done to improve the finances ’ of many South Island racing clubs they would be unable : to maintain their present low stakes, let alone make the • increases to encourage owners and trainers to continue • in the sport, said Mr G. H. Grigg, the chairman, to the • annual meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club • yesterday.

The only possible solution was relief from “the altogether too heavy burden of taxation which all clubs have to carry’,” he said.

Mr Grigg said the Racing and Trotting Conferences had made joint submissions on taxation to the Government.

Reviewing the club's year, .he said the loss of £1547 could be considered reasonably satisfactory, taking into • account the increased depreciation on buildings and plant of nearly £lOOO and the fairly substantial increases in the ' stakes for some of the more ’ important races.

• The committee fully appre- ; elated the importance of providing prize money that ■ would attract the best horses to Riccarton. he said. While • the club was in a sound fin- ‘ ancial position, the same

i could not be said about rac- • ing generally. Unless there ' was an Improvement in the ■ overall position the fortunes ‘of the club could be materi- ’ ally affected. Mr Grigg's comments on ' taxation were echoed by a - report from the honorary- • treasurer (Mr D. W. J. ' Gould), who could not attend -the meeting. - - ■ “Owners have increasingly

high costs to bear, fewer horses are in training throughout New Zealand, and if we met adverse times there could be difficulty in getting satisfactory fields,” he said.

“The Government, of course, takes far too much out in taxation. “We all know that North Island and other visiting horses are the life blood of the club’s meetings, so good stakes are essential, and these the club is certainly endeavouring to give at our principal race meetings." Members* Stand Most of the discussion at the meeting was on suggested improvements for the members’ stand and members’ facilities. Mr C. L. Austin asked that the manually-operated totalisator indicator, which he said had been'inaccurate on many occasions, should be remedied.

Mr Grigg replied that the committee was considering putting an indicator closer to the stand.

Mr S. O. Dillon wanted an area reserved for older members.

Mr W. G. Quirk suggested that in the main public stand there should be provision for reserved seats, just as there was at Rugby matches. In reply to several suggestions on members’ car parking space, Mr Grigg said consideration was being given to using the space behind the members’ stand, which was now a “dead area". There would probably have to be some charge made for space there.

To Mr Austin, he said the club was endeavouring to cut down the time between races, and had brought forward the time that horses had to be in the birdcage before a race.

He thought that was preferable to having the parade ring brought closer to the stand, as Mr Austin suggested.